"Grey" water, the waste water from our washing, can be used to water plants, indoors and out, as long as the household cleaners used are eco-friendly.

And that’s good news at a time when we all need to do our best to save water.

The water will not only save you having to get out the hose, but can also be a treat for your plants, supplying extra nutrients which can help growth, according to International Business Times.

If you are feeling ambitious you could go so far as setting up an irrigation system straight from the washing machine to the garden.

But if you want to start off slowly why not invest in some Ripple water buckets, enabling you to carry dirty water from the bath or the sink out into the garden for your plants to have a good drink.

Of course, not all "grey" water is good for plant life so do make sure you are only using cleaning products that are biodegradable and non-toxic. If in doubt, check if your product is suitable for septic tanks, such as Ecover’s range.

And if you’re feeling really lazy, at least scoop up a cup or two of water from the bath. Your Busy Lizzie will thank you for it. But maybe not your pet.

[Image: Randy Son Of Robert]